Tim Elenz: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: http://www.Citizens4Elenz.comOffice sought: 22nd District SenateAge: 49Family: Married 5 childrenOccupation: Business owner Employee benefits insurance broker/ consultantEducation: St. Patrick's HS Licensed Insurance BrokerCivic involvement: I served on several boards: Mt. Siani Hospital Schwab Hospital (former Secretary of the Board) Recovery House(former Chairman) Executives Club of Chicago (former professional committee Co Chairman)Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Yes and the arrest has never lead to a convictionCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Building consensus with elected officials in our community. For last 6 years the District and the State have suffered because of the current Senator's leadership. Our District has lost more resources because of his lack of ability to bring people together. There is something wrong when the District's State Representatives vote one way and the Senator votes another way on issues that are important to our community.Fighting will stop and we will bring people together to work on solutions for the 22nd district.Key Issue 2 Rather being reactive about businesses leaving Illinois we need to be proactive in finding ways to attract companies to do business in the greatest State in the Union. We need to work with our elected officials to make Illinois competitive to the firms looking to relocate.Key Issue 3 One of the top ideas we stand for as Democrats is Education. Resolve issues in the U46 by bringing the all the parties together to work on solutions. Sitting down with the the staff at the schools we will find the answers.Questions Answers What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears? For incumbents, how did you vote on the Sears plan in this fall's veto session?First thing I would do unlike the current Senator would be to vote against the casino expansion bill. The City of Elginand Kane County lost millions of dollars due to the expansion of gambling. The City of Elgin had to raise taxes on it's citizens as a result of a loss revenues. I would oppose any expansion of gambling. Not knowing all the details behind the scenes, the Sears deal never should have been grandstanded the way that it was. I would have been proactive bringing the parties to the table. The current Senator went out of his way to embarrass members of his own party in order publicize the situation.Sears, school district, Village of Hoffman Estates andparties involved should have met and worked out a dealpresent it to the State legislators to pass something for the area. I would have facilitated a meeting with all the parties and worked out a deal. Not grandstanded for political gain.As far as tax breaks for other companies in Illinois those need to be done on an individual basis.Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during a general election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus' Why or why not?Yes there should be a limit. Elected officials should run on their records.I will be voting for President Cullerton as the leader of the Democratic caucusHow, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a "deadbeat state?" How have you or will you vote on future gambling bills' What is your view of slots at racetracks' Casino expansion?At a minimum two fold approach to cutting the budget:1) I would look to eliminating current positions by natural attrition. If the State work force is reduced by 3000 employees by retirement, firing, resignations etc do we need to hire back 3000 staffers' 2) Illinois has too many layers of government. What needs to be closely looked at are services being duplicated? Eliminate redundant services provided by multiple government agenciesSavings should be earmarked to pay the State obligations. As far as casinos, I would vote against any expansion of gaming that did not include proper compensation for the existing gambling facilities. In our District the Grand Victorianot only provides jobs for our community it supports the Kane County budget's general fund. In addition providesmillions of dollars to various charities around the state of Illinois through the Grand Victoria Foundation. No other casino in Illinois gives back the way Grand Victoria Foundation does.What do you specifically support to deal with the state's pension gap? Would you vote for House Republican Leader Tom Cross's three-tier pension plan? Why or why not?No I would not. I do not believe the proposal will resolve the matter.We would get the State of Illinois out of the pension business.We should sit down with unions and work with them to take control of their members health and welfare programs. Unions have done a great job running their member'sprograms in the private sector why not let them do it in the public sector also? If I understand the Leader's proposal correctly this bill assumes that the income tax increase passed last year is permanent.Should gay marriage be legalized? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception as others have? How would you vote on a concealed carry firearm plan? Should the death penalty be reinstated?Gay marriage should be legalized, but religious organizations should be able to participate or not participate on an individual basis.Conception issue is an issue that needs to be addressed by Federal government. Wehave too many pressing issues that need our attention. If people are not happy with something they should work to change not circumvent by jurisdictionsI would vote for conceal and carry for law abiding citizens as it is in 49 other states. I would require Illinois to update it's computer system in a reason time to track peoplewho are mentally ill or are convicted criminals.Death penalty issue has been decided and perhaps looked at in the next session. I have not heard all sides to be able to make a decision.90% of our time as State legislators should be spend in the solution not rehashing issues